Controllably extendable and retractable



B. B. RAY ETAL CONTROLLABLY EXTENDABLE AND RETRACTABLE Jan. 21, 1964 POWER-DRIVEN ACTUATING MEANS FOR A TRAFFIC SIGN OR OTHER OBJECT Filed Nov. 13, 1961 Supp;

INVENTORS BRANCH B. RAY I RA BRADLEY United States Patent 18, Calif.

Filed Nov. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 151,758

1 Claim. (Cl. 94-1) Generally speaking, the present invention relates to power-driven actuating means which may be controllably energized for extension or controllably energized for retraction and which may extend and retract any desired object. For example, in one preferred form of the invention, the object to be extended and retracted may comprise a traflic sign, or the like, and the entire apparatus may be vertically oriented and positioned in a downwardly directed recess-defining means adapted to be positioned below the surface of a street, or the like, whereby to either position the trafiic sign thereabove in an easily visibly observable position for use by motorists and/ or pedestrians or to controllably retract same downwardly into said recess-defining means so as to completely be out of sight and, therefore, inoperative insofar as the motorists and/or pedestrians are concerned. However, it should be clearly noted that the invention, while particularly well adapted for such traffic sign actuating use, is not specifically so limited but may be employed for controllable actuation in an extendable and retractable manner of virtually any desired object. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the specific description set forth hereinafter and the accompanying illustration relating to the use of the novel actuating means of the present invention for controllably elevating and retracting a traffic sign is exemplary only of the broad inventive concept of the present invention and is to be so construed.

in connection with the use of the apparatus of the present invention for controllably extending and retracting a traffic sign, it should be noted that this is a particularly advantageous arrangement since a good many traffic signs are extremely useful when traffic conditions are of a certain type but, at other times when traffic conditions are of a quite-different type, such traffic signs may be virtually useless and, in fact, may actually be detrimental to the efficient and safe flow of traffic.

Therefore, it would be extremely desirable to be able to have such a traffic sign in operation during certain traffic conditions and to have it out of operation or wholly ineffective during other traffic conditions.

At the present time, this is accomplished in the case of certain tramc signs by making them of the portable type which may be manually placed at appropriate locations at certain appropriate times so as to be visibly observable by motorists and/0r pedestrians in a manner such as to expedite the flow of traffic in a safe manner; said signs being adapted to be manually removed at other times so as to avoid unfavorably affecting the flow of trafiic when conditions are such as to not require the sign.

Another prior art arrangement for accomplishing the above purpose is to effectively render operable and inoperative certain electrical traffic signals such as stop-and g0 signals, or the like, according to traffic conditions.

Both of the above-mentioned prior art methods and arrangements for causing a traflic sign to be effective at certain times and ineffective at other times have certain major disadvantages. For example, the above-mentioned prior art portable type of traffic signs require the services of workers and usually trucks in order to distribute and set up such portable signs when needed and to then remove them and pick them up and return them to a storage 3,118,352 Patented Jan. 21, 1964 region when they are not to be used for traffic control purposes. This adds to the cost of using them and severely limits their general usage.

Also, for example, the second above-mentioned prior art means for rendering a trafiic sign operative at certain times and inoperative at other times is disadvantageous since this procedure is limited entirely to electricallyoperated signs which are extremely costly and cannot be widely used at all points where it might be desirable to use a traflic sign temporarily.

The apparatus of the present invention, when employed for vertically elevating and depressing a traffic sign so as to place it in operative visibly observable position or so as to completely remove it from said operative visibly observable position, completely meets and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of prior art traffic signs since it does not require manual labor to set up the signs whenever they are to be used and to later remove the signs, and since it does not require the installation of permanently positioned and extremely expensive electrically operated signs of the stop-and-go type and, furthermore, since it makes it possible to employ signs bearing any type of traffic or pedestrian instructions and positioned any place which may be desired and so arranged as to either extend upwardly so as to be visible and therefore operative or so as to be retracted into the ground whereby to be completely out of sight and Wholly inoperative, as desired by the traffic engineer or manager of a city or other area using such extendable and retractable traffic signs.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a controllably extendable and retractable power-driven actuating means of the character referred to above and which can be controllably energized in either of two ways for corresponding extension or retraction.

It is a further object to provide apparatus of the character set forth above wherein the actuating means may be employed for controllably extending and/ or retracting, as desired, any display or use object, or the like.

It is a further object to provide apparatus of the character referred to above wherein the display and/or use object adapted to be controllably extended and/or retracted by the novel actuating means of the present invention comprises a traffic sign, or the like.

It is a further object to provide apparatus of the character referred to above wherein the actuating apparatus and trafiic sign adapted to be actuated thereby are normally positioned in a downwardly directed recess-defining means which is preferably adapted to be positioned below the surface of a street or the like; said actuating apparatus being adapted, when energized, to controllably extend an extension portion thereof and the trafiic sign upwardly above the surface of a street into a readily visibly observable position for controlling the actions of motorists and/ or pedestrians in accordance with instructions carried by the sign.

it is a further object to provide apparatus of the char acter referred to above wherein the recess-defining means is provided with normally closed top door means adapted to be controllably opened to allow extension of the extension portion of the actuating means and the traffic sign and to be controllably closed at the conclusion of a retraction operation thereof.

It is a further object to provide apparatus of the character referred to above including translatory rectilinearmovement motor means usually adapted to be supported within the recess-refining means (but not specifically limited to such an arrangement in all forms of the invention); said motor means including a driving motor and engaging means driven thereby and being drivingly cooperable with connecting rod means normally carried in said recess-defining means and adapted to carry a trafiic sign or other display or use object at or adjacent to its upper end, and further including guide means for guiding said conncctin" rod means as it is rcctilinearly extended and/or retracted as a result of controllable energization of said motor in a corresponding manner.

It is a further object to provide apparatus of the character referred to above wherein the engaging means providing the driving engagement of the driving motor with respect to the connecting rod means comprises rack means coupled to the connecting rod means and pinion means coupled to the driving motor.

It is a further object to provide apparatus of the charactcr eferred to above wherein the motor means is provided with deenergization-operated braking means for automatically rotatably locking said motor means in whatever position it is in when de-energized whereby to firmly support the connecting rod means in any vertical position whether extended or retracted.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the character referred to above including limit switch means positioned adjacent upper and lower extremes of the vertical reciprocating path of travel of the connecting rod means and effectively engageable thereby when said connecting rod means reaches either extreme position whereby to de energize said motor means and stop said connecting rod means in either fully extended position or fully retracted position.

It is a further object to provide apparatus of the character referred to above including automatic resetting switch means for controilably re-energ ing said motor means when said connecting rod means is in either extreme position whereby to cause said connecting rod means to be driven by said motor means toward the other extreme position.

It is a further object to provide apparatus of the character referred to above wherein said guide means comprises channel means of non-round cross-sectional configuration or of other non-rotative but vertically slidable type wherein said connecting rod beans, which includes a portion non-rotatably cooperable therewith, will be vertically slidable with respect thereto but will be prevented from rotary movement with respect to said guide means about a longitudinal vertical axis extending therethrough.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the character referred to above wherein the recess-defining means is provided with drain means at or adjacent to the bottom thereof for the egress of any undesired water which may accumulate therein as a result of rain, flooded gutters, leakage from adjacent pipes or storm drains, or the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the general character referred to above and/ or of any of the specific versions or forms thereof referred to above which is relatively simple, foolproof, easy-tomaintain, and easy-touse construction such as to be conducive to widespread use thereof.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which follows hereinafter, which is to be considered as exemplary of, but not speciieally limiting, the invention and said objects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of the detailed description which follows hereinafter.

For the purpose of g the nature of he present invention, one exemplary embodiment is illustrated in the hcreinbelow-describcd figures of the accompanying single drawing sheet and is described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a greatly reduced-size view, partly in elevation, partly broken away, and partly in vertical section, show in solid lines one exemplary form of the present inve on in fully retracted and completely inoperative position insofar as the control of motorists and/or pedestrians is concerned. This view also shows in broken lines the apparatus after the motor has been energized and has extended the connecting rod means and the tratfic sign upwardly into an easily visibly observable and fully operativc position for effective control of the actions of motorists and/or pedestrians in accordance with the visibly observable instructions carried by the sign.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, with certain portions removed for drawing simplification reasons, of: the driving motor and the pinion and rack means effectively coupling same to the connecting rod means as viewed in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken in the di ection of the arrows 4 4 of FIG. 3 and illustrates the sliding non-rotative engagement of one specific form of the connecting rod means in one specific form of the guide means comprising a rectangular channel.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 5'5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary circuit schematic view illustrating the electrically cnergizable motor, the upper and lower limit switch means, the manual resetting switch means, and an interconnecting electric circuit means for controllably energizing the motor.

Referring to the figures for exemplary purposes, one illustrative embodiment of the invention takes a typical exemplary form wherein it comprises controllably extendable and retractable power-driven actuating means indicated generally at 10. In the form illustrated, the actuating means 10 is shown as being associated with and adapted to extend and retract a traffic sign 11 and thus, in the specific form illustrated, can be said to comprise 11 traflic sign telescopic actuator or actuating means, although the invention is not specifically so limited-this being an exemplary form only.

In the form illustrated, the telescopic trailic sign actuator 10 includes recess-defining means indicated generally at 12 positioned below the surface of the street, such as is indicated at 13, whereby to define a downwardly directed recess 14 which is open at the top althoug. adapted to be normally closed by the top door means, indicated generally at 15.

In the specific example illustrated, the recess-defining means 12 comprises an outer layer of concrete, or the like, 16 lining a hole 17 in the ground 18 underlying the street surface 13, which is provided therein with an inner casing 19 (preferably, although not necessarily, made of metal) which is preferably of a non-corrodable type.

The recess-defining means 12 is preferably also provided with drain means D having an access opening 20 thereto positioned at or adjacent to the bottom of the recess-defining means 12 whereby to drain off any undesired water or other liquid which might otherwise accumulate in the bottom of the recess-defining means 12 as a result of rain or excess water fiow adjacent to the recess-defining means 12.

In the specific example illustrated, the open top 21 of the recess-defining means 12 is effectively provided with the door means 15 which takes the form of a pair of similar doors 15A and 15B hinged by corresponding pivot pin means 22A and 2213 with respect to the top edge of the liner 19 of the recess-defining means 12 in a manner such that the two similar doors 15A. and 158 have similar free inner swinging edges 23A and 23B positioned to move into abutting engagement with each other as shown in full or solid lines in FIG. 1 when said doors are in closed horizontal co-planar relationship and also positioned to swing arcuately in the directions indicated by the arcuate arrows 24A and 24B in FIG. 1 away from each other into open position such as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1 when the apparatus is actuated so as to extend the sign means 11 into the upper extreme position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. It will be understood that when the sign 11 is returned to the lower extreme position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, the two doors 15A and 1513 will arcuately swing in the opposite direction from the previous arcuate movement indicated by the arrows 24A and 2413 into the closed abutting horizonal co-planar relationship shown in solid or full lines in FIG. 1. This action will occur under the action of gravity as a result of the weight of the doors A and 15B.

Furthermore, it should be noted that in the preferred form of the invention illustrated, sealing means is provided for effectively sealing the top of the recess 14 when the doors 15A and 1513 close in the manner just described. As best shown in 'FIG. 2, said sealing means comprises a mounting bracket of angle iron, or the like, fastened to the inside of the liner 19 adjacent the top 21 thereof and carrying thereabove a resilient elastomeric gasket 26 adapted to receive the weight of corresponding portions of each of the doors 15A and 15B when they move into the horizontal co-planar closed relationship shown in solid or full lines in FIG. 1 and shown in cross-sectioin in FIG. 2. However, this sealing arrangement may be modified and in certain forms of the invention may be eliminated, if desired.

The exemplary form of the invention illustrated, also includes translatory rectilinear-movement motor means, indicated generally at 27, for vertically reciprocating connecting rod means such as is shown at 28.

The exemplary form of the invention illustrated includes the connecting rod means 243, mentioned above, which is shown as carrying the traffic sign 11 at its upper end, although not specifically so limited; said connecting rod means 28 being arranged to be driven by the rectilinear-movement motor means 27, which, in the exemplary form of the invention illustrated, comprises the driving electric motor 29 which is shown in the illustrated form as being supported within the recess-defining means 12 by a platform or bracket 30 fastened to one side wall portion of the liner 19, although not specifically so limited.

The rectilinear-movement motor means, indicated generally at '27, also includes translatory engagement means for coupling the driving electric motor 29 with respect to the connecting rod 23 whereby to convert rotary movement of the driving motor 29 into rectilinear movement of the connecting rod 28. Said engagement means, in the specific exemplary form of the invention illustrated, comprises pinion means 32 carried by the motor shaft 31 and a longitudinal toothed rack 33 carried along the adjacent longitudinal side of the connecting rod means 28 and in engagement with the pinion 32 whereby rotary movement of the electric motor shaft 31 and the pinion gear 32 will vertically move the rack 33 and the connecting rod 28 carrying same upwardly with respect to the electric motor 29 or downwardly with respect thereto, which vertical movement will be efiectively guided by guide means indicated generally at 34 and, in the example illustrated, comprising a rectangular channel 35 slidably carrying the connecting rod 28 therein which is of similar rectangular shape. This cross-sectional configuration has the additional advantage of preventing relative rotation of the connecting rod means 28 with respect to the guide channel 35 whereby to firmly maintain the sign 11 in a desired orientation when fully elevated into the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. However, this feature of the invention may be modified in certain :forms of the invention and eliminated entirely in other forms of the invention it this function is not needed.

In the specific example illustrated, the guide channel 35 is firmly supported and braced with respect to the recess-defining means 12 by brace means B which is fastened to the inner liner 19 as best shown in FIG. 5. However, various other bracing or supporting structures functionally equivalent to the illustrated form may be employed or a rigid bottom mounting or other structural equivalent may be employed in lieu thereof.

The connecting rod means 28 is provided at its upper end with door abutment means indicated generally at 36 and adapted to eifectively open the doors 15A and 153 when the connecting rod means 28 is driven upwardly by the translatory rectilinear-movement motor means 27, to hold said door means open while the sign 11 is in the upwardly extended position, and to allow said doors 15A and 153 to be closed under the action of gravity after the door abutment means 36 and the sign 11 have been fully retracted downwardly into the solid line position shown in FIG. 1.

In the specific example illustrated, the above-mentioned door abutment means 36 is of substantially inverted U-shaped configuration and includes a transverse portion 37 and two laterally spaced vertically directed downwardly extending side portions 38A and 3B so positioned that upward movement of the connecting rod means 23 causes the transverse portion 37 to abut the doors 15A and 15B and to forcibly open same. Further upward extension of the connecting rod means 26% causes the side portions 38A and 38B to slide along the inside of the open doors 15A and 15B and to elfectively hold same in the open position clearly shown in broken lines in FiG. 1. When the connecting rod means 28 is retracted downwardly, the side portions 33A and 38B of the door abutment means 36 slidably move downwardly with respect to the doors 15A and 158 which they hold open, until the transverse portion 37 drops below the level of the open doors 15A and 15B and allows them to close under the action of gravity into the fully closed position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1.

The electric motor 29' is adapted to be energized through electric circuit means indicated generally at 39 in FIG. 6 by way of an input terminal ad which is adapted to be connected to one terminal of a suitable source of electrical energy (indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 6 by the legend POWER SUPPLY), the other terminal of which is grounded (such as to the metallic inner liner 1?, although not specifically so limited). It will be noted that the electric motor 29 has one terminal 41 grounded as indicated at 42 whereby to be in circuit which said previously-mentioned power supply. The input terminal 49 is connected through a lead 43 to a manual resetting switch means, indicated generally at 44, which is connected by way of either of two parallel circuits 45A or 453 through either of two limit switches, indicated generally at 46A and 4&3, to either of two input terminals 4 7A or'4 7l3 of the electric motor 29 whereby to energize the electric motor 29 for rotation in either of two directions. in other words, the input motor terminal 47A connects to one motor winding (not shown since this is well known in the art) adapted to drive the motor in one direction while the input motor terminal 47B connects to another motor winding (also not shown for th same reason) adapted to drive the motor in the opposite direction.

It will be noted that the limit switch 46A is positioned adjacent the upper extreme of the guide channel 35 while the limit switch 46B is positioned adjacent the lower extreme of the guide channel 35. It should further be noted that the guide channel 35 has a slot as extending along the length thereof on the opposite side from the entry aperture A which allows the pinion 32 to engage the rack 33, and that the side of the connecting rod 2% opposite from the rack 33 carries an actuating projection or arm 4% extending outwardly through the longitudinal slot 48 for actuating engagement or abutment with the upper limit switch means sea when the connecting rod means 28 is in the upper fully extended position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1 and for actuating abutment or engagement with the lower extreme limit switch 463 when the connecting rod means 2% is in the lower extreme position shown in full or solid lines in REG. 1. in either case, the engagement or abutment of the actuating projection or arm 4 9 with the corresponding limit switch 46A or 463 (which is normally closed) effectively opens said switch and de-energizes the corresponding driving winding of the electric motor 29 whereby to stop the motor (which is of a de-energization-operated automatic braking type) '0 at said location. This acts to lock the connecting rod neans 28 in said extreme position (either the upper exerne position sho in broken lines in 1 or the after it is only necessary to manually operate it means (which is of a snap-action alternate-contact-clc ing type, which will energize the other winding of the electric motor and cause opposite rotation t cot and opposite longitudinal movement of the connect 'ig rod means 28 until the actuating arm 49 opens his other limit switch means 46A or :68.

Incidentally, it should be noted that while the circuit in the c: iplary form wherein the electric motor is fixedly mounted within recess-defining means 1 in! and the rack 33 is carried by the connecting rod means 3 -nd longitudi. .liy rcciprocates, the invention r no if. so limited. Actually, the electric motor 29 int it be carried by the ertically cxtendable connecting rod me ns and might coop: ate with a llfd rack, or the like, v. reby to bring about similar extension and retraction of the connecting rod means. Also various other translatory or rectilinear-movement motor means equivalent in function to the specific exemplary one shown at 2'7 may "-c employed.

it should also be noted that the means for opening the door means, maintaining the door means in open posi tion do: g extenuon and retraction of the connecting rod means, and closing the door means after retraction thereof, may be modified substantially from the exemplary door ab tr It means illustrated and specifically described be it should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of i to be constr pre e and It invention to the die structure shown in the figures rbcd hcrcinbeforc. Rather, the real invention is int: n" d to include substantially equivalent the basic teachings and inventive t invention.

concept of ti We clrrn: Controllably cxtcndablc and retract actuating means comprising: recess-dc able power-driven lining means pro vided with controllably opcnnble top door means normally closing the top thereof, said top door means comprising a pair of similar doors hingedly mounted at their outer edges and having similar free inner swinging edges positioned to move into engagement with each other when said doors are in closed horizontal coplanar relationship and positioned to swing arcuatcly away from each other into upwardly and slightly angularly inwardly directed open position when similarly forcibly upwardly opened from beiow; motor means provided with and in cnective driving engagement with respect to connecting rod means adapted to carry a member which is to be extended and retracted, said connecting rod means normally being positioned within said recess-defining means when in noncx' tended position; and door opening means adapted to open the closed door means when said motor means is encrgizcd for upward driving extension of said connecting rod means whereby to open said door means and allow the upward extension therethrough and thcreabovc of said connecting rod means and stid member adapted to be carried thereby and whereby to allow said connecting rod means to move downwardly with respect to said open door means during retracting movement of said connecting rod means until such time as said connecting rod means and said member adapted to be carried thereby are retracted downwardly within said recess-defining means, and then being adapted to effectively close said open door means, door abutment means having an upper portion adapted to contact the underneath srface of the closed door means when said motor means is energized for upward driving extension of said connecting rod means whereby to forcibly open said door means and aliow the upward extension therethrongh and tlicreabove of said connecting rod means and said member adapted to be carried thereby, said door abutment means having downwardly extending side portions positioned for interior door-holding and door-supporting contact with said open door means when said connecting rod means is in said extended position and being adapted to siidably move downwardly with respect to said open door means while holding some open during retracting movement of said connecting rod means until such time as said connecting rod means and said member adapted to be carried thereby are retracted downwardly within said recessdefining means, and then being adapted to become progressively disengaged from said door-hold ing and door-supporting contact to allow gravity-caused closure of saledoor means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

